Love is Beautiful

By JisatsuNo Yuyake

How would you know if you keep looking the other way?
•••
Merida Love Hollyn is a normal girl who lacks self confidence and she never fights back. And because of that, she often gets bullied by the mean girls at school, earning the nicknames, “Goldfish” “Ugly Duckling” and “Trash”. Her days was always bad as she describes it until a handsome basketball player named Jacob started to get curious about her ugliness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto
• Release date: Jul 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005032548

Book preview

Love Is Beautiful

She's So Ugly

JisatsuNoYuyake

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2021

Content Copyright © JisatsuNoYuyake

ISBN 9789354901379

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

www.ukiyoto.com

This is for the lady who paints weirdly, the one who laughs whenever she makes a wrong stroke. Curly, ずっと

Prologue

Just get him a personal nurse that can comply with anything he asks! He's wasting our time!

He's our son!

Yes! But are you willing to let go of this opportunity for him? Because I am not! His father yelled.

The five years old kid just stared at an empty ceiling. He was laying on a hospital bed and his parents have been fighting nonstop. And it's all because of him.

He hates how he's too weak.

That afternoon he walked out of his room with his four wheels IV stand. Dragging it towards the hall and into the elevator.

The kid went outside for a walk. He wasn't supposed to, but he wanted to so he sneaked out.

Kids like him were running around and he feels jealous. How unfair could his life get?

He continues to walk not minding everybody. Until he saw a group of children circling someone who huddled up. Furrows displayed on his forehead.

You stupid ugly duckling! Why did you let the bird fly away? A kid with blonde hair roared at the girl who was in tears.

Another kid threw dirt at her. Which made the girl covered herself with her hand as the other kids throw more dirt.

The diseased kid couldn't just stand there and watch. So, he pulled the IV tubes out of his hand and marched his way to the bad kids. He started pulling their shirt which made them fall down and away from the girl.

Stop it! He yelled, glaring at the other kids.

His hand! One of the kids gasped, looking at the dripping blood of the disease kid's hand. It frightened the bad kids away.

The girl looked up. She slightly gaped in wonder when she saw the boy's calming gaze and his bright smile.

You should learn how to stand up for yourself, the diseased boy said, offering his bloody hand for her.

***

Chapter 1

Did you guys see Merida today? She looks like a goldfish! A redheaded girl had said and burst out into laughter with her friends.

Jacob couldn't help but take a glance at them. He thought about who Merida was. He has been hearing people at school say she's really ugly and he's curious if it were a bit true.

Shifting his gaze at the basketball in his side, he picks it up. Then he took his bag and headed to the shower area. There, he asked a few male friends about this Merida.

You haven't seen her? How? I mean she's in the same class as you, a guy named Brandon told him.

Jacob turned off the shower and while soaping his body, he replied, Nah, I don't think I heard someone named Merida in class.

Well, check her out tomorrow, Brandon said and then laughed. She's so ugly.

The words she's so ugly is still on Jacob's head. It wouldn't seem to fade even though he's laying down on his bed now. He's too curious.

An hour passed and it was still messing with his head. So he decided to get out of bed and take a walk outside.

At an alley where there are mostly street children, he saw someone who was giving food to those kids. That someone was wearing a hoodie so he couldn't tell if that someone was a he or she.

Jacob was about to go when that 'someone' took off her hoodie. And yes, it was a girl with long hair. He smiled at the kind gesture she had given the street children.

He started walking towards the lady, who when he was closer looked at him for a second, and her smile faded. Jacob was shocked at how immediate she put her hoodie back on as if she was hiding her face.

It's nice to see someone giving food to these children, he stated, stopping at her side.

The lady didn't say anything. Instead, she was trying her very best not to show her face.

Mister, are you here to give us food too? A kid asked Jacob. That made him look at the kid.

Not tonight but maybe tomorrow, he replied with a smile.

Oh... this beautiful lady named Merida, gives food to us every—

Wait you're Merida? Jacob asked abruptly facing the lady on his side.

The lady hiding her face was surprised that he knew her. She didn't know what to do so she ran away. She didn't want him to see her ugly face; he probably goes to the same school where she goes to.

Jacob was more surprised that Merida ran away like that. He closed his gaping mouth turning to face the kid.

Uhm... I'll come back here tomorrow. Right now, I got to follow her, be safe. After saying that, he ran to follow her.

He's a basketball player which makes it his advantage. It's no problem for him catching up to her. He could already see her.

Merida! Listen! I just want to talk! He shouts as he catches up.

Merida's heart was pounding inside her chest. No, I can't let him see me, she thought. He will probably say the same things they do at school.

Jacob knew what he's doing was crazy and ridiculous but there's something that's telling him to catch her. He was so close to her that he grabs on to her hoodie.

Merida looked back and it was in slow motion for Jacob. They met each other's eyes and he saw her bare face that made everything stop. For a moment, he saw her cry and put her hoodie back on. She sniffed and said, I know. I'm ugly you don't have to say it.

After saying that, Merida left running again and he didn’t follow. Jacob couldn't say anything, he froze at the moment he saw her face. Indeed she is ugly...

***

Chapter 2

Oh, c'mon sis! Let's be real, okay? You know when someone's ugly! She's ugly! Jacob told her sister who just rolled her eyes at him. They're having breakfast at the moment.

Hmm, wow! She must be really ugly, his older brother Jeremy commented.

Now, now, boys what did I tell you? Outer beauty isn't going to last, everyone starts having wrinkles when they get older, their mother said. 

But didn't you say you saw her kindness towards the street children? You found her beautiful first, his sister, Jane told him as she slices her meat.

That made Jacob think about it. Yeah, she's beautiful in that way but she still looks so ugly. He doesn't know if he should apologize to her later at school or what. He just sighed his decision off.

***

Merida felt sick looking at herself in the mirror. Why does she have so many pimples all over her face? Why does she doesn't have a perfect nose as everyone has? Why are her eyebrows too bushy? Why are her lips always cracked? Why is her front tooth crooked? Why is she so ugly?

Tears were coming out from the corner of her eyes. She sniffed as she knows, another person was going to team up with everyone against her. That guy from last night… he even froze.

She sighed deeply and tried to smile. Even her smile is ugly. There's nothing beautiful about her. There's just no one who could fall for her.

Wiping her tears away, she stopped looking at her ugly face. She turned around and took her backpack, leaving her room for school.

***

Jacob was normally late but this day was something else. He wanted to apologize to Merida so he was early, only to find no Merida in the classroom. Maybe Brandon was wrong, he thought.

The bell rang and everyone went inside. Usually, he wouldn't mind anything that is happening anymore at this point but then he did. He finally saw her ugly face coming in, but wait, he didn't just notice that! He noticed a bruise too. That made him slightly frowned. What happened to her?

The whole day, the bruise is all he could think of. Even at basketball practice, he couldn't focus so he sat at the bleacher. Then he suddenly heard those girls laughing again.

I couldn't help it! Her ugly face was so annoying that I had to throw a fist at her for no reason but her ugliness! What she said sparked guffaws around their area.

So that's why she had that... he mumbled.

Jacob thought something for about a minute and then snatched his backpack and run towards the exit of that gym.

Yo! Jacob! Where are you heading man? The practice isn't over yet! Brandon yelled across the court.

I have to go! It's an emergency! He shouted and never again looked back.

At the school ground, he looked around for Merida. He needs to apologize to her for acting the way he acted. First, he went inside the classroom but no one was there. Next was the library because usually, nerds stay there and again she wasn't.

As soon as he was losing hope to see Merida, she popped up at the staircase. Her eyes widened seeing him down the stairs but Jacob's grin turned into a smug. She was stuck on that step for moments until he took a step up and she heard a bell on her head. A warning bell that she immediately turned around and rushed to climb up.

Wait! Merida! She heard him scream but no! There was just no way that she's going to face that guy! No uh!

She continued to climb up. Good thing almost everyone was gone already.

Merida c'mon! I just want to talk! She heard him again.

His voice is like a blasting sound of a chainsaw that was going to tear her apart. It was scary to her so she kept running until she was up at the rooftop where she was nowhere to go.

Merida was catching her breath thinking of a way to hide from him but the rooftop was just so clean and plain. Okay, she's dead.

Mer—Merida

She looked back to see Jacob catching his breath, his hands on his knees. She frowned as she almost ran out of breath from running up.

What is wrong with you? Why were you chasing me!? Merida angrily asked.

You were running away, so of course I had to chase you! Jacob yelled.

Why are you yelling at me? I was scared of you! Merida yelled back.

You-you're yelling too, he said as his breath finally steadied.

Merida can't stop glaring at him. What do you want from me?

Nothing! I just want to apologize for being so shocked at how ug—I meant... uh... it's—

Jacob can't find the right words to say sorry without mentioning that part.

Merida looked down and her face softened. You don't have to apologize. Just leave me alone already, she spoke, almost like a whisper.

Now, Jacob just feels like shit. It probably hurt her that he said that. I’m so stupid, he thought to himself.

I just want to be friends with you, Jacob told her, hoping she won't push him away.

But then the next thing she said hit him. Why? Cause you think when we're friends you can freely bully me all you want?

Merida stared at him when he couldn’t respond and he stared back at those sad eyes. Her face was clouded up by pain and self-hate. It was at that moment when he realized how beautiful she was in that disastrous look on her face. She can be beautiful if she wants to, he thought.

Merida was walking her way home but then this guy just won't stop following her. She just tries not to mind him but after ten minutes she just can't disregard this guy.

She stopped walking and turned to glare at him. Why are you following me?

Jacob showed a flattering smile and replied, I just want to see you getting home safe.

Merida frowned as she can't figure out what this guy's intentions were. They've been in the same class, but it's just this year that he goes doing this. What's wrong with him? She asked in her head.

Why stare at me like that?

Merida shook her head turning her head at the side. She forgot that she was still looking at him when she spaced out.

Nothing. I live just at the corner. You can go home now, Merida told him and continues to walk. 

I meant inside the house. Which one is your house?

Merida turned around frustratingly. Come on! Just leave already! Stop acting like you want to be friends with someone as ugly as me.

Jacob didn't say anything for fifteen slow seconds.

Which one? He insistently asked, showing an irritating look on his face.

Ugh!!! Merida groaned a hundred percent frustrated with the guy. She walked fast to stay away from him.

Jacob secretly grinned at the way she acted. She's cute, he thought and continue following her. Once they were in front of her house or so where she led him to, she faced him.

Thank you for walking me home. Now you can leave and please don't bother me again, she told him so straight forward.

Jacob just smiled and waved at her.

When she thought he was out of view she sighed. Finally, that guy was gone. It excited her that he wants to be her friend but the fact that he's one of the popular boys at school, everyone would pick on them, especially her. His idea is trash